Safety-net bill for agencies heads to governor

A bill to save five state agencies that otherwise would expire was approved by the House. It’s already been approved by the Senate so the next stop is Gov. Rick Perry’s office.

The agencies are the Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Department of Insurance, Texas Racing Commission, Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation and Office of Public Insurance Counsel.

The agencies were left hanging because they all were subject to sunset review this year, which means legislation must be approved to continue them.

Proposed overhauls didn’t pass, and the safety-net bill to keep the agencies operating as-is for two more years also failed in the closing days of the regular session. That would have started the clock ticking to wind them down.